Center support for bed frame, bed frame and assembly method

ABSTRACT

A bed frame comprises a center support, a pair of extender bars, each extender bar having a pair of connector elements, a pair of rail members, and two pairs of cross-arms. A cross-arm in each pair of cross-arms is attached at one end to one rail member and has at a free end adapted to be attached to one end of an extender bar. Individual extender bars connect together the free ends of one pair of cross-arms attached to one rail member to the free ends of the other pair of cross-arms attached to the other rail member. The center support has opposed ends each including a pair of notches. The notches are sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in an extender bar upon assembly.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents,hard copy or electronic, cited or referred to in this application areincorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application.

DEFINITIONS

The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” andother forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and beopen ended in that an item or items following any one of these words isnot meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant tobe limited to only the listed item or items.

“Rectangular” includes square.

BACKGROUND

This background discussion is not intended to be an admission of priorart.

Bed frames are common devices used to support a bed comprising, forexample, a boxspring and a mattress positioned on top of the boxspring.These bed frames are typically made of steel angle irons that are weldedor connected together by various types of connecting devices. One typeof connecting device is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/725,165, filed Mar. 16, 2007, entitled SUPPORT FRAME FOR A BED &LOCKING MECHANISM THEREFOR, where the cross-arms of a bed frame havetheir ends attached by a joint assembly that has an arm mounted on aframe member to rotate between a locked and unlocked position. Anothertype of connecting device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,268. Italso has an arm mounted on a frame member to rotate between a locked andunlocked position.

The bed frames come in a number of sizes to accommodate different sizebeds, for example, twin, full size, queen, California king, Eastern kingbeds. The component parts of these bed frames may be assembled into thedesired size using an extender bar connected between the cross-arms ofthe bed frames. It would be highly desirable to reduce the costs, forexample, by reducing the number of components used to form the bed frameor to simplifying and reducing the time to assemble the bed frame'scomponents or both.

SUMMARY

My center support for a bed frame, bed frame, and assembly method haveone or more of the features depicted in the embodiments discussed in thesection entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVEEMBODIMENTS.” The claims that follow define my center support for a bedframe, bed frame, and assembly method, distinguishing them from theprior art; however, without limiting the scope of my center support fora bed frame, bed frame, and assembly method as expressed by theseclaims, in general terms, one or more, but not necessarily all, of theirfeatures are:

One, my bed frame comprises a plurality of components that upon assemblyform the bed frame. These components include (a) a pair of rail members,each having a pair of cross-arms, (b) a pair of extender bars, and (c)my center support. My center support has opposed ends with a pair ofnotches in each end. The notches interact with a pair of connectorelements of another bed frame component, for example, the extender bars.Each connector element may include a head member on a stem memberextending outwardly and downwardly upon assembly of my bed frame. Theremay be projections and slots in predetermined positions relative to eachother in overlapping ends of the cross-arms and extender bars to beengaged selectively to control the distance between the rail members toaccommodate beds of different sizes. My center support is used when thebed frame being assembled is for a large size bed. A locking mechanismmay be employed that detachably locks together overlapping ends ofextender bars and cross-arms.

Two, my center support comprises an elongated, rigid member. Thedimensional and positional relationship between the notches in theopposed ends of my center support and their interactive connectorelements enables the center support's ends to be connected anddisconnected to a bed frame component such as, for example, the extenderbars quite easily and manually without using any tools. One notch ofeach pair is along a side edge of the center support and the other notchof each pair is at an end edge of the center support. Depending on thecross-sectional shape of the body of the rigid member, the notches alonga side edge will be on the same side edge or one notch on each ofopposed side edges. The distance between centers of the notches and thedistance between centers of a corresponding interactive pair ofconnector elements is the same. When the center support and extenderbars are connected, the centers of each pair of notches are inregistration with the centers of the notches' corresponding interactivepair of connector elements being engaged. One notch of each pair has aterminal open end along a side edge of the center support and the othernotch of this same pair has a terminal open end along an adjacent endedge of the center support. Each notch terminates within the body of thecenter support in a rounded bottom. The notches of an individual pair ofnotches are substantially at a right angle with respect to each other.An enlarged head member of each connector element is a predetermineddistance from an underlying portion of the bed frame component to whichthe center support is being attached to provide a gap. Each end of thecenter support has a predetermined thickness substantially equal to thispredetermined distance so each end segment of the center support can bewedged into the gap upon connection to bed frame component to which thecenter support is being attached.

Three, because of the dimensional and positional relationship between apair of notches and the corresponding interactive pair of connectorelements being engaged, my method provides a tool-free way to assemble aplurality of bed frame components to form a portion of a bed frame. Withboth notches in essentially the same plane as the stems of the pair ofconnector elements being engaged and the center support and bed framecomponent to which the center support is being attached initially at anacute angle with respect to each other, an installer aligns the terminalopen end of a notch along a side edge (side notch) of the center supportwith the stem member of one of the connector elements in the bed framecomponent to which the center support is being attached. This one stemmember is advanced into the side notch until it contacts the roundedbottom of the side notch. This wedges a part of an end segment of thecenter support between the enlarged head member of this one connectorelement and an underlying portion of the bed frame component to whichthe center support is being attached. The stem member, which usually iscircular and has a diameter essentially equal to the diameter of therounded bottom of the notch, now acts as a pivot or center of rotation.With the stem member contacting the rounded bottom of this one connectorelement, the installer manually rotates in one direction the centersupport and bed frame component to which the center support is beingattached until they are perpendicular. Such relative rotation brings theterminal open end of the other notch of the pair that is along the endedge (end notch) into alignment with the stem of other connector elementof the pair being engaged. As the installer continues to rotate thecenter and extender bars relative to each other, the stem of this otherconnector element is moved into the end notch. When the center andextender bars are perpendicular, the remaining part of the end segmentof the center support is wedged between the enlarged head member of thisother connector element and the underlying portion of the bed framecomponent to which the center support is being attached. In other wordsthe entire end segment of the center support is wedged between the headsof both stems of the pair of connector elements being engaged. Rotationin the opposite direction dislodges the end segment of the centersupport from the connector elements so the center and an attached bedframe components can be easily disengaged.

These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this listintended to be exhaustive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Some embodiments of my center support, bed frame and assembly method arediscussed in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, whichis for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the followingfigures (Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my bed frame partiallyassembled.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing one versionof a mechanism for locking overlapping ends of the extender bars andcross-arms of my bed frame in a locked condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 showing an armof the locking mechanism rotated into an unlocked condition to enabledisconnecting the overlapping ends of the extender bars and cross-arms.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a secondversion of a mechanism for locking overlapping ends of the extender barsand cross-arms of my bed frame in a locked condition.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4 showing an armof the locking mechanism rotated into an unlocked condition to enabledisconnecting the overlapping ends of the extender bars and cross-arms.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing an undersideof one of the extender bars having a pair of connector elementsinitially engaging a pair of notches at one end of a center support.

FIG. 6B is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to that ofFIG. 6A showing the pair of connector elements fully engaging the pairof notches at the one end of the center support.

FIG. 6C is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the underside of theone end of the center support shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6D is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the underside of theone end of the center support initially engaging the pair of connectorelements in the extender bar

FIG. 6E is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view similar to that of FIG.6D showing the pair of connector elements fully engaging the pair ofnotches at the one end of the center support.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a topside ofthe other extender bar having a pair of connectors partially engaging apair of notches at the other end of the center support shown in FIGS. 6Aand 6B.

FIG. 7B is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to that ofFIG. 7A showing the pair of connectors in the other extender bar fullyengaging the pair of notches at the other end of the center support.

FIG. 7C is cross-sectional view taken along line 7C-7C of FIG. 7B.

FIGS. 8A through 8E is a series of figures depicting the relativepositions of the cross-arms and extender bars to provide for beds ofdifferent sizes.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1completely assembled to accommodate a Eastern king size bed.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bed frame not usinga center support completely assembled to accommodate a twin size bed.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my center support.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of another embodiment of my center support.

FIG. 12A is cross-sectional view taken along line 12A-12A of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment of my bed frame is generally designated by the numeral 10and comprises a number of rigid, metal bed frame components that areassembled manually without the use of tools into the substantiallyrectangular bed frame shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIGS. 8A through 8E,the overall width dimension of my bed frame 10 is determined byselective relative positioning of its components, primarily itscross-arms and extender bars. As illustrated in FIG. 1, my bed frame 10has a pair of L-shaped side rails 12 a and 12 b, each side railincluding a pair of L-shaped cross-arms 14 a and 14 b, and 14 a′ and 14b′. Each cross-arm 14 a, 14 b, 14 a′ and 14 b′ is connected to pivot bya hinge member HM at or near an end of a side rail. This enables eachcross-arm 14 a, 14 b, 14 a′ and 14 b′ to be manually moved from aposition where it is substantially nested in an adjoining L-shaped siderail to a position at a right angle to its side rail. A pair of extenderbars 16 a and 16 b may be used for detachably connecting free ends FE ofthe cross-arms 14 a and 14 b together as depicted in FIGS. 8B through8E.

In FIG. 8A the aligned opposed free ends FE of the pairs of cross-arms14 a, 14 b and 14 a′, 14 b′ of each side rail 12 a and 12 b areconnected directly together without using the extender bars 16 a and 16b to configure the bed frame for a twin size bed as shown in FIG. 10. Bylocating the extender bars 16 a and 16 b and the pairs of cross-arms 14a, 14 b and 14 a′, 14 b′ in different positions relative to each otheras discussed subsequently herein in greater detail, my bed frame 10 maybe configured to provide full size, queen, California king (FIG. 9), orEastern king beds. When used to make one of these large bed sizes, mycenter support is employed, for example, the center support 20illustrated in FIG. 11, or an alternate embodiment, the center support20′ illustrated in FIG. 12. Either the center support 20 or 20′ mayinclude a pair of spaced apart support post 21 extending to the floorwhen the bed frame 10 is assembled and oriented horizontally. The siderails 12 a and 12 b, cross-arms 14 a, 14 b and 14 a′, 14 b′, extenderbars 16 a and 16 b, and center support 20 are steel angle irons having agenerally L-shaped cross-section including legs L1 and L2 atsubstantially a right angle with respect to each other. As depicted inFIG. 12, my center support 20′ is a steel member having a generallyT-shaped cross-section including a leg L3 and a centered top 25. Eachcenter support 20 and 20′ has a length substantially from 48 to 86inches and a width substantially from 1 to 3 inches. My bed frame 10uses the center support 20 or 20′ to connect together the extender bars16 a and 16 b without the aid of fasteners such as bolts and screws soall the components of the entire bed frame may be assembled by handwithout using any tools.

In the one pair of cross-arms 14 a, 14 b, each cross-arm has a row ofspaced apart projections P1, a free end FE, and another end attached bya hinge member HM to the side rail 12 a. In the other pair of cross-arms14 a′, 14 b′, each cross-arm has a row of spaced apart key hole shapedslots SL1, a free end FE, and another end attached by a hinge member HMto the side rail 12 b. Each extender bar 16 a and 16 b has opposed endportions E1 and E2 where the one end portion E1 includes a row of spacedapart keyhole shaped slots SL2, and the other end portion E2 includes arow of spaced apart projections P2. As best shown in FIGS. 6A through7B, each extender bar 16 a and 16 b has a pair of adjacent,substantially parallel, connector elements 22 a and 22 b that interactwith a pair of notches N1 and N2 in each opposed end 20 a and 20 b ofthe center support 20. For example, the connector elements 22 a and 22 bmay be shoulder rivets.

Each pair of connector elements 22 a and 22 b is substantially centrallypositioned along each one of the extender bars 16 a and 16 b. One pairof connector elements 22 a and 22 b is between the row of projections P2and the row of slots S2 in the extender bar 16 a, and the other pair ofconnector elements 22 a′ and 22 b′ is between the row of projections P2and the row of slots SL2 in the extender bar 16 b. Upon assembly of thecomponents, the end portions E1 and E2 of the individual extender bars16 a and 16 b overlap the ends of the pairs of cross-arms 14 a, 14 b and14 a′, 14 b′ being connected thereto, the projections P1 in thecross-arms are received in the slots SL2 in the extender bars and theprojections P2 in the extender bars are received in the slots SL1 in thecross-arms, and the pair of connector elements 22 a and 22 b are alignedwith the pair of connector elements 22 a′ and 22 b′. The projections P1and P2 and slots SL1 and SL2 in the cross-arms and extender bars are inpredetermined positions relative to each other. Thus, they may beengaged selectively to control the distance between the rail members 12a and 12 b to accommodate beds of different sizes.

Each individual connector element 22 a, 22 b, 22 a′, and 22 b′ includesa head member H on a stem member S having a portion passing through andextending outwardly and downwardly substantially at a right angle withrespect to a leg of the extender member to which an individual connectorelement is attached upon assembly of my bed frame 10. The stem members Sof each pair of connector elements 22 a, 22 b and 22 a′, and 22 b′ arein parallel. A base 23 of the stem member S is substantially flushagainst the exterior of the leg of the extender member through which thestem member S passes. The head member H on the stem member S has agreater diameter d₁ then the diameter d₂ of its stem member S. As bestillustrated in FIG. 7C, for example, there is a gap G between an innersurface 30 a of the head member H and an underlying surface portion 30 bof the leg L1 of the extender member 16 b. The distance between theunderlying surface 30 b of the head member H and the underlying surfaceportion 30 b of the leg L1, or the width of the gap G, is substantiallyequal to the thickness t of the leg L1′ of the center support 20, whichis substantially uniform. Usually, the width of this gap G (or thicknesst) is substantially from 1/16 to ¾ inch.

Each notch N2 is in an end edge (only end edge ED1 shown in FIG. 6C),respectively in the ends 20 a and 20 b, of the center supports 20 and20′. In the center support 20 the notches N2 in the ends 20 a and 20 bare directly opposite each other, and each notch N1 is in a side edgeED3 near one end 20 a and 20 b of the center support 20. In other words,the notches N1 are both along the same side edge ED3. The side edge ED3and the end edges ED1 and ED2 are essentially straight and at rightangles. In the alternate embodiment, the notches N1 of the pair ofnotches at the respective individual ends 20 a and 20 b are in opposedside edges ED4 and ED5 of the center support 20′ and the notches N2 atthe respective individual end edges ED1 and ED2 are diagonally opposed.In both embodiments, the notches N1 and N2 have a substantially U-shapeconfiguration. Although arranged differently in the center supports 20and 20′, the pair of notches N1 and N2 at the respective ends 20 a and20 b function in essentially an identical manner, and consequently, onlythe operation of the notches in the center support 20 will be discussedin detail.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 6A, and 7A, the notches N1 and N2 in the end20 a of the center support 20 are sized and shaped to engage andinterlock with the pair of connector elements 22 a and 22 b in theextender bar 16 a, and the notches N1 and N2 in the end 20 b of thecenter support 20 are sized and shaped to engage and interlock with thepair of connector elements 22 a′ and 22 b′ in the extender bar 16 b.Each of the notches N2 in each pair of notches has a terminal open endE4 along an end edge, for example, as the edge ED1 depicts in FIG. 6C.Each of the notches N2 in each pair of notches has a terminal open endE3 along the same side edge ED3 of the center support 20. As shown inFIG. 6C, both notches N1 and N2 have substantially identical curvilinearshapes of substantially the same dimensions. Each notch N1 and N2includes substantially parallel sides S3 and S4 that merge into arounded bottom B having a radius R. The radius R is substantially halfthe diameter d₂ of the stem member S. Thus, individual stem members Seach fit snugly in the notch N1 or N2, as the case may be. Upon assemblyof the components as shown for example in FIGS. 6E and 7B where thecenter support 20 is at a right angle to the extender bars 16 a and 16b, a stem member S first passes through an open end E3 or E4 in one ofthe notches N1 or N2, as the case may be, and then stops its inwardmovement on contact with the bottom B of a notch to be seated as shownin FIG. 7C. With both notches N1 and N2 and the both stems S of theconnector elements 22 a′ and 22 b′ in the extender bar 16 b engaged asshown in FIG. 7B, an end segment 35 of the individual end 20 b is wedgedbetween the head member H and the underlying surface portion 30 b of theextender bar 16 b as shown in FIG. 7C.

The dimensions and orientation of the pair of notches at the opposedends 20 a and 20 b of the center support 20 are important for thenotches N1 and N2 to properly engage the connector elements 22 a and 22b upon assembly of the center support and an extender bar 16 a or 16 b,as the case may be. Specifically, the notches N1 and N2 have centers aand b, respectively, lying along a common reference line RL1. A secondreference line RL2 is substantially at a right angle with respect to thereference line RL1 and passes through the center b of notch N2. Statedotherwise, the notches N1 and N2 are substantially at a right angle withrespect to each other. The distance d₄ between the centers c and d of apair of connector elements, connector elements 22 a and 22 b or 22 a′and 22 b′, as the case may be, is the same and is equal to the distanced₃ between the centers a and b of the notches N1 and N2. In most casesthe distance d₃ and the distance d₄ is substantially from ½ to 3 inch.Moreover, the notches N1 and N2 are precisely positioned at the ends 20a and 20 b of the center support 20, and the connector elements 22 a and22 b are located a sufficient distance from the legs L1 of the extenderbars 16 a and 16 b, so with the notches N1 and N2 engaging a pair ofconnector elements, the center support and one extender bar 16 a or 16b, as the case may be, can be rotated relative to each other. For thenotches N1 and N2 to lodge in the stem members S as, for example,depicted in FIG. 6E, the size of an end segment 35 of an individual end20 a or 20 b of the center support 20 must be reduced to prevent suchend segment interfering with the rotational movement required to lodgethe stem members S the notches. N1 and N2.

The ends 20 a and 20 b each have a predetermined thickness tsubstantially equal to the width of the gap G. Thus, the end 20 a of thecenter support 20 can be wedged into the narrow gap G provided by theconnector elements 22 a and 22 b in the extender bar 16 a, and the end20 b of the center support 20 can be wedged into the narrow gap Gprovided by the connector elements 22 a′ and 22 b′ in the extender bar16 b. Specifically, as depicted in FIG. 6A, upon assembly of theextender bar 16 a and the one end 20 a of the center support 20, aterminal open end E4 of the notch N1 along the side edge ED3 of thecenter support 20 has dimensions that enable the stem S of the connectorelement 22 a to be received therein. The other notch N2 at this end 20 ahas a terminal open end E3 along the first end edge ED1 with dimensionsthat enable the stem member S of the other connector element 22 b to bereceived therein upon assembly of the components. In a similar fashionwith respect to the other pair of notches at the end 20 b, as depictedin FIG. 7A, upon assembly of the extender bar 16 b and the one end 20 bof the center support 20, a terminal open end E4 of the notch N1 alongthe side edge ED3 has dimensions that enable the stem member S of theconnector element 22 a′ to be received therein. The other notch N1 atthis end 20 b has a terminal open end E4 along the other end edge ED2 ofthe center support 20 with dimensions that enable the stem member S ofthe other connector element 22 b′ to be received therein upon assemblyof the components. The notches N1 and N2 lie in essentially the sameplane and distance d3 between the stem members S of the adjacentconnector elements 22 a and 22 b, or 22 a′ and 22 b′, as the case maybe, and the positions of the notches is predetermined so rotationthrough an angle of 90 degrees orients the center support 20 and theextender bar at 90 degrees with respect to each other as shown in FIG.7B.

In both instances, the pairs of connector elements 22 a, 22 b and 22 a′,22 b′ on each of the extender bars 16 a and 16 b and the pairs ofnotches N1 and N2 are connected by inserting a stem member S of oneconnector element of a pair of the connector elements into one notch andthen rotating in a first direction to insert the other stem member ofthe adjacent connector element of the pair into the second notch.Rotating in a second opposite direction dislodges at least one of thestem members S from the notches to enable an end of the center supportto be detached from an extender bar.

A locking mechanism may be employed to detachably lock together theoverlapping ends portions E1 and E2 of extender bars 16 a and 16 b andthe cross-arms 14 a, 14 b, and 14 a′, 14 b′. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrateone type of locking mechanism as disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/725,165, filed Mar. 16, 2007, entitled SUPPORT FRAME FOR ABED & LOCKING MECHANISM THEREFOR, and FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate anothertype of locking mechanism as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,268. Inboth examples, a lever arm LA is rotated in one direction so a fingerelement 38 engages overlapping frame components to lock the componentstogether. Upon the lever arm LA being rotated in the opposite direction,the finger element 38 disengages to allow the overlapping framecomponents to be disconnected. Thus, the cross-arms 14 a, 14 b, and 14a′, 14 b′ and the extender bars 16 a and 16 b are detachably lockedtogether.

Method of Assembly

My method comprises assembling manually a plurality of bed framecomponents to form at least a portion of a bed frame without the use ofany tools. Central to my method is the use of a bed frame componenthaving a pair of notches N1 and N2 at an end to attach to another bedframe component having a pair of interactive, corresponding, adjacentconnector elements. Although I illustrate my center support 20 or 20′being connected to the extender bars 16 a and 16 b, my method may beused to connected any two bed frame component where one component has apair of notches N1 and N2 in an end as discussed above and the other bedframe component has a pair of interactive, corresponding, adjacentconnector elements as discussed above. For example, to form the bedframe 10 from its components, the center support 20 is first connectedto one extender bar (either bar 16 a or bar 16 b) and then to the otherextender bar. After so connecting both extender bars 16 a and bar 16 bto the center support 20, the cross-arms are positioned to overlap withthe ends of the extender bars and locked in position as discussed above.

In accordance with my method as shown FIG. 6D, the terminal open end ofthe notch N1 along the side edge ED3 is initially aligned with the stemmember S of one connector element, wedging an end of the center support20 between the enlarged head member H and the underlying surface portion30 b of, for example, the extender bar 16 b (FIG. 6A). As shown in FIG.7A, the center support 20 and the extender bar 16 b are then rotatedrelative to each other in one direction to bring as shown in FIGS. 6Band 7B the terminal open end E3 of the other notch N2 along the end edgeED1 into alignment with the stem member S of the other connectorelement, wedging the remaining segment 35 (FIG. 6D) of the end of thecenter support 20 between the enlarged head member H and the underlyingsurface portion 30 b of the extender bar 16 b. Rotating the centersupport 20 and the extender bar 16 a or 16 b, as the case may be,relative to each other in a direction opposite the one direction,dislodges the one stem S from the notch N2 along the end edge ED1 of thecenter support 20.

Due to the unique configuration of the center support's ends 20 a and 20b, including the notches N1 and N2, and the dimensional and positionalrelationship between these ends and the connector elements 22 a and 22 band their stem members S, the center support's ends are easily manuallyconnected and disconnected to the extender bars without using any tools.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The above presents a description of the best mode I contemplate ofcarrying out my bed frame and assembly method and of the manner andprocess of making and using them, in such full, clear, concise, andexact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which theypertains to make and use my bed frame and assembly method. My bed frameand assembly method is, however, susceptible to modifications andalternate constructions from the illustrative embodiment discussed abovewhich are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention tolimit my bed frame and assembly method to the particular embodimentdisclosed. On the contrary, my intention is to cover all modificationsand alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of my bedframe and assembly method as generally expressed by the followingclaims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subjectmatter of my invention:

1. A bed frame comprising a plurality of components that upon assemblyform the bed frame, said components including first and second railmembers, a first pair of cross-arms, each cross-arm of the first pairhaving a free end and another end attached to the first rail member, asecond pair of cross-arms, each cross-arm of the second pair having afree end and another end attached to the second rail member, and firstand second of extender bars, each extender bar having a pair ofconnector elements, the first extender bar for connecting together thefree end of one cross-arm of the first pair to the free end of onecross-arm of the second pair, and the second extender bar for connectingtogether the free end of the other cross-arm of the first pair to thefree end of the other cross-arm of the second pair, and a center supporthaving opposed ends, first and second end edges respectively at saidopposed ends of the center support, a first pair of notches near thefirst end of the center support, and a second pair of notches near thesecond end of the center support, the first pair of notches sized andshaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements inthe first extender bar, one notch in the first pair having a terminalopen end along a side edge of the center support and the other notchhaving a terminal open end along the first end edge of the centersupport, said notches of the first pair being substantially at a rightangle with respect to each other, and the second pair of notches sizedand shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elementsin the second extender bar, one notch in the second pair having aterminal open end along a side edge of the center support and the othernotch having a terminal open end along the second end edge of the centersupport, said notches of the second pair being substantially at a rightangle with respect to each other.
 2. The bed frame of claim 1 where eachconnector element includes a head member on a stem member extendingoutwardly and downwardly upon assembly of the bed frame.
 3. The bedframe of claim 1 where each connector element comprises a shoulderrivet, said pair of connector elements positioned adjacent each otherwith the stems of the rivets being substantially parallel.
 4. The bedframe of claim 1 where the attached ends of the cross-arms are connectedby hinge members, each hinge member being at or near an end of a railmember.
 5. The bed frame of claim 1 where each extender bar has opposedends and the free ends of the cross-arms upon assembly overlap with theends of the extender bars and a locking mechanism detachably lockstogether the overlapping ends of extender bars and the cross-arms.
 6. Abed frame comprising a plurality of components that upon assembly formthe bed frame, said components including first and second rail members,a first pair of cross-arms, each cross-arm of the first pair having arow of spaced apart projections, a free end, and another end attached tothe first rail member, a second pair of cross-arms, each cross-arm ofthe second pair having a row of spaced apart slots, a free end, andanother end attached to the second rail member, and first and secondextender bars, each extender bar having opposed end portions, one endportion including a row of spaced apart projections, the other endportion including a row of spaced apart slots, and a pair of adjacentconnector elements substantially centrally positioned between the row ofprojections and the row of slots, each connector element comprising ahead member on a stem member extending outwardly and downwardly uponassembly of the bed frame, upon assembly of the components, the firstextender bar connecting together the free end of one cross-arm of thefirst pair to the free end of one cross-arm of the second pair, and thesecond extender bar connecting together the free end of the othercross-arm of the first pair to the free end of the other cross-arm ofthe second pair, said end portions of the individual extender barsoverlapping the ends of the cross-arms being connected thereto and theprojections in the cross-arms being received in the slots in theextender bars and the projections in the extender bars being received inthe slots in the cross-arms, and a center support having opposed ends,first and second end edges respectively at said opposed ends of thecenter support, a first pair of notches near the first end of the centersupport, and a second pair of notches near the second end of the centersupport, the first pair of notches sized and shaped to engage andinterlock with the pair of connector elements in the first extender bar,one notch in the first pair having a terminal open end along a side edgeof the center support and the other notch having a terminal open endalong the first end edge of the center support, said notches of thefirst pair being substantially at a right angle with respect to eachother, and the second pair of notches sized and shaped to engage andinterlock with the pair of connector elements in the second extenderbar, one notch in the second pair having a terminal open end along aside edge of the center support and the other notch having a terminalopen end along the second end edge of the center support, said notchesof the second pair being substantially at a right angle with respect toeach other.
 7. The bed frame of claim 6 including a locking mechanismthat locks together the overlapping ends of extender bars and thecross-arms.
 8. The bed frame of claim 6 where the projections and slotsin the cross-arms and extender bars are in predetermined positionsrelative to each other to be engaged selectively to control the distancebetween the first and second rail members to accommodate beds ofdifferent sizes.
 9. A bed frame comprising a plurality of componentsthat upon assembly form the bed frame, said components including a pairof rail members, each rail member having attached thereto a pair ofcross-arms adapted to project in the same direction from the rail memberto which it is attached substantially at a right angle, an intermediateassembly for attaching the pairs of cross-arms together including a pairextender bars connected together by a center support having opposed endswith one said opposed end detachably connected to one extender bar andthe other said opposed end detachably connected to the other extenderbar, each extender bar having a pair of centrally positioned, adjacentconnector elements, each connector element comprising a head member on astem where the head member has a greater diameter then the stem memberand the stem member extends outwardly and downwardly upon assembly ofthe bed frame a predetermined distance to form between the head memberand a portion of the extender bar a gap, and said center support havingfirst and second end edges respectively at said opposed ends of thecenter support, a first pair of notches near the first end of the centersupport, and a second pair of notches near the second end of the centersupport, said first and second ends having a predetermined thicknesssubstantially equal to said predetermined distance so the opposed endsof the of the center support can each be respectively wedged into saidgaps in upon assembly of the components, said first pair of notchessized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connectorelements in the one extender bar, one notch in the first pair having aterminal open end along a side edge of the center support withdimensions that enable the stem of one of the connector elements to bereceived therein upon assembly of the components and the other notchhaving a terminal open end along the first end edge of the centersupport with dimensions that enable the stem of the other connectorelement to be received therein upon assembly of the components, saidnotches of the first pair being substantially at a right angle withrespect to each other, and said second pair of notches sized and shapedto engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in the otherextender bar, one notch in the second pair having a terminal open endalong a side edge of the center support and dimensions that enable thestem of one of the connector elements in the other extender bar to bereceived therein upon assembly of the components and the other notchhaving a terminal open end along the second end edge of the centersupport with dimensions that enable the stem of the other connectorelement in the other extender bar to be received therein upon assemblyof the components, said notches of the second pair being substantiallyat a right angle with respect to each other, said connector elements andnotches being connected by inserting the stem of one connector elementof a pair of said connector elements in an extender bar into one notchin a side edge of the center support and rotating in a first directionto insert the stem of the adjacent connector element of said pair intothe second notch in an end of the center support, and rotating in asecond direction to dislodge at least some of the stems from thenotches.
 10. The bed frame of claim 9 where one pair of said cross-armsattached to one rail member has in an end portion thereof a row ofprojections and the other pair of cross-arms attached to the other railmember has in an end portion thereof a row of slots, and each extenderbar has in an end portion thereof a row of projections and has inanother opposed end portion thereof a row of slots, and upon assembly ofthe components, the end portions of the cross-arms with the projectionstherein overlap with the end portions of the extender bars with theslots therein and the projections are received in the slots, and the endportions of the cross-arms with the slots therein overlap with the endportions of the extender bars with the projections therein and theprojections are received in the slots.
 11. The bed frame of claim 10including locking mechanisms that detachably lock together theoverlapping ends of extender bars and the cross-arms.
 12. The bed frameof claim 10 where the projections and slots in the cross-arms andextender bars are in predetermined positions relative to each other tobe engaged selectively control the distance between the first and secondrail members to accommodate beds of different sizes.
 13. A centersupport for a bed frame to be detachably connected between first andsecond bed frame components with the first and second bed framecomponents substantially parallel and the center support substantiallyperpendicular to said bed frame components, each said bed framecomponent including a pair of adjacent connector elements, eachconnector element comprising a head member on a stem where the headmember has a greater diameter then the stem member and the stem memberextends outwardly a first predetermined distance to form a gap betweenthe head member and a portion of a bed frame component, said centersupport comprising an elongated rigid member including first and secondend edges respectively at opposed first and second ends of the rigidmember, each said opposed end having a predetermined thicknesssubstantially equal to said first predetermined distance correspondingto the gap so each said end can be wedged into a gap in upon assembly ofthe center support and bed frame component, a first pair of notches nearthe first end, and a second pair of notches near the second end, saidfirst pair of notches sized and shaped to engage and interlock with thepair of connector elements in the first bed frame component, one notchin the first pair having a terminal open end along a side edge of therigid member with dimensions that enable the stem of one of theconnector elements to be received therein upon assembly of the centersupport and the first bed frame component and the other notch having aterminal open end along the first end edge of the rigid member withdimensions that enable the stem of the other connector element to bereceived therein upon assembly of the center support and the first bedframe component, said notches of the first pair being substantially at aright angle with respect to each other, and said second pair of notchessized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connectorelements in the second bed frame component, one notch in the second pairhaving a terminal open end along a side edge of the rigid member anddimensions that enable the stem of one of the connector elements in thesecond bed frame component to be received therein upon assembly of thecenter support and the second bed frame component and the other notchhaving a terminal open end along the second end edge of the rigid memberwith dimensions that enable the stem of the other connector element inthe second bed frame component to be received therein upon assembly ofthe center support and the second bed frame component, said notches ofthe second pair being substantially at a right angle with respect toeach other, said connector elements and notches being connected byinserting the stem of one connector element of a pair of said connectorelements in a bed frame component into one notch in a side edge of therigid member and rotating in a first direction to insert the stem of theadjacent connector element of said pair into the second notch in an endof the rigid member, and rotating in a second direction to dislodge atleast some of the stems from the notches.
 14. The center support ofclaim 13 where the connector elements of a pair each have a center andsaid centers are separated by a second predetermined distance and thenotches of each pair each have a center and said centers are separatedby the same said second predetermined distance.
 15. The center supportof claim 14 where the second predetermined distance is substantiallyfrom ½ to 3 inches.
 16. The center support of claim 14 where the centersof each pair of notches are in registration with the centers of thenotches upon insertion of the stems of a pair the connector elementsinto corresponding interactive notches.
 17. The center support of claim14 where each notch terminates within the body of the center support ina rounded bottom.
 18. A bed frame component comprising an elongated,rigid metallic member having opposed ends and a length substantiallyfrom 48 to 86 inches and a width substantially from 1 to 3 inches, saidmetallic member at said ends having a substantially uniform thicknesssubstantially from 1/16 to ¾ inch, each said end having therein a pairof notches, one notch of each pair being along an end edge of themetallic member and having a terminal open end along the end edge andthe other notch of each pair being along a side edge of the metallicmember and having a terminal open end along the side edge, both saidnotches in each pair having a substantially U-shape configuration andbeing substantially at a right angle.
 19. The bed frame component ofclaim 18 where the metallic member includes at least one side edgeextending between said ends and the side notches of each pair of notchesare along this same said one side edge.
 20. The bed frame component ofclaim 18 where the metallic member includes pair of opposed side edgesextending between said ends and a side notch of a pair of notches at oneend is along one side edge and a side notch of the other pair of notchesat the other end is along the other side edge.
 21. A method ofassembling a plurality of components to form a portion of a bed framewhere the components include a first component having a pair of adjacentconnector elements, each connector element including an enlarged headmember on a stem member to provide a gap between the head member and anunderlying portion of the first component, and a second component havingan end with an edge thereat and a pair of notches near the end edge,each notch sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the one ofconnector elements, one notch having a terminal open end along a sideedge of the second component with dimensions that enable one stem memberto be received therein upon assembly of the components and the othernotch having a terminal open end along the end edge of the secondcomponent with dimensions that enable the stem member of the otherconnector element to be received therein upon assembly of thecomponents, said notches being substantially at a right angle withrespect to each other, said method comprising (a) aligning the terminalopen end of the notch along the side edge with the stem of one connectorelement and wedging the end of the center support between the enlargedhead member and the underlying portion of the first component, and (b)rotating the components relative to each other in one direction to bringthe terminal open end of the other notch along the end edge intoalignment with the stem of the other connector element and wedging theend of the second component between the enlarged head member and theunderlying portion of the first component.
 22. The method of claim 21where the notches lie in the same plane and distance between the stemsof the adjacent connector elements and the positions of the notches ispredetermined so rotation through an angle of 90 degrees orients thecomponents at 90 degrees with respect to each other.
 23. The method ofclaim 21 where the enlarged head member is a predetermined distance fromsaid underlying portion of the first component to provide a gap and theend of the second component has a predetermined thickness substantiallyequal to said predetermined distance so said end of the second componentcan be wedged into the gap upon assembly of the components.
 24. Themethod of claim 21 where rotating the components relative to each otherin a direction opposite said one direction dislodges the one stem fromthe notch along the end edge of the center support.
 25. The method ofclaim 21 where with both notches in essentially the same plane as thestems of the pair of connector elements being engaged and the first andsecond components initially at an acute angle with respect to eachother, aligning the terminal open end of a notch along a side edge ofthe second component with the stem member of one of the connectorelements in the first component, advancing said stem into said notchalong a side edge of the second component until said stem contacts abottom of the side notch to wedge a part of an end segment of the secondcomponent between an enlarged head member on said stem and an underlyingportion of the first component, with said stem member contacting thebottom of said one connector element, rotating in one direction thefirst and second components until said components are perpendicular tobring the terminal open end of the other notch along the end edge intoalignment with the stem of other connector element of the pair beingengaged, and continuing to rotate the first and second componentsrelative to each other, until said the stem of this other connectorelement is moved into the other notch along the end edge, so when thefirst and second components are perpendicular, the remaining part of theend segment of the center support is wedged between the enlarged headmember of this other connector element and the underlying portion of theextender bar.